Internet Use and Digital Health Engagement Among Older Caregivers: Racial and U.S. South Regional Disparities.

IF 2 3区医学 Q2 GERONTOLOGY

Journal of Applied Gerontology Pub Date : 2026-08-24 DOI:10.1177/07334648261481887

Kun Wang, Kedong Ding, MiKayla N Eason, Yanjun Dong, Olivio J Clay, Nicole Ruggiano

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

BackgroundOlder Black informal caregivers in the U.S. South may face heightened healthcare challenges, yet digital technology may expand access to health resources.ObjectiveThis study examined racial and regional disparities in internet use and digital health engagement among older informal caregivers, focusing on Black caregivers in the South.MethodsData came from 900 Black and White caregivers aged ≥ 50 in the 2017-2020 Health Information National Trends Survey. Logistic regression models tested race-by-region interactions for general internet use and health-related online activities.ResultsBlack caregivers in the South had lower odds of general internet use and online communication with doctors, suggesting compounded racial and regional disadvantages. Among internet users, racial disparities in digital health engagement did not vary by region. Findings suggest that disparities may stem more from upstream barriers to digital access and general internet use. Addressing structural barriers to digital access is critical for advancing digital health equity.

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互联网使用和老年护理人员的数字健康参与：种族和美国南部地区差异。

背景美国南部的老年黑人非正式护理人员可能面临更大的医疗保健挑战，然而数字技术可能会扩大获得医疗资源的机会。目的本研究考察了老年非正式护理人员在互联网使用和数字健康参与方面的种族和地区差异，重点关注南方的黑人护理人员。方法数据来自2017-2020年健康信息全国趋势调查中900名年龄≥50岁的黑人和白人护理人员。逻辑回归模型测试了一般互联网使用和与健康相关的在线活动中按种族划分的地区相互作用。结果南方的黑人护理人员一般使用互联网和与医生在线交流的几率较低，这表明种族和地区的综合劣势。在互联网用户中，数字健康参与方面的种族差异并没有因地区而异。研究结果表明，差距可能更多地源于数字接入和一般互联网使用的上游障碍。消除数字获取的结构性障碍对于促进数字卫生公平至关重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Applied Gerontology GERONTOLOGY-

CiteScore

5.10

自引率

13.30%

发文量

202

期刊介绍： The Journal of Applied Gerontology (JAG) is the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society. It features articles that focus on research applications intended to improve the quality of life of older persons or to enhance our understanding of age-related issues that will eventually lead to such outcomes. We construe application broadly and encourage contributions across a range of applications toward those foci, including interventions, methodology, policy, and theory. Manuscripts from all disciplines represented in gerontology are welcome. Because the circulation and intended audience of JAG is global, contributions from international authors are encouraged.